Mr McLaughlin (25) was in the news last year when he saved the lives of a young brother and sister in treacherous surf on Mount Maunganui beach, New Zealand.
Mr McLaughlin, of Route de St Aubin, First Tower, rushed to the rescue of Oskar Greer (8) and his sister Charlotte (6) after they were sucked out by strong rip currents.
But instead of hanging around and enjoying his moment of glory, the former Grainville and Hautlieu student went straight back out with his surfboard without waiting to be thanked.
The story of the rescue reached New Zealand’s national newspapers, who launched an appeal to find the ‘unknown hero’.
It was a full week later that Mr McLaughlin eventually came forward to be reunited with the two children and their relieved parents.
Mr McLaughlin (25) had grown his hair for eight years but wanted to do something to help the Animals Shelter after returning from his travels to learn that the Shelter was under threat of closure.
